Hello Swan Reach,

What a busy fortnight of learning activities and opportunities facilitated by staff at SRAS, as we draw close to the end of term, including: Pedal Prix 24-hour event, R-2 Planetarium Excursion, Japanese Hiragana Excursion, Secondary Subject Counselling, SRC Casual Dress Day and 3-6 Yookamarra dioramas that are on display in the front office.

We look forward to celebrating students’ successes with the community at the SRC assembly this Friday @ 1:25pm in the outdoor learning area. There will be music performances along with highlights from another busy and rewarding term of teaching and learning.

SRAS wishes all families a blessed and safe holiday period and thank you for your ongoing support. A reminder that it is an early dismissal on Friday @ 2:10pm following the assembly with buses departing at 2:15pm.

Kind regards

Mr John Robertson

Principal

STAFFING

SRAS is excited to announce Mr Greg Griffiths’ appointment to permanency after more than 20 years of teaching at SRAS and neighbouring sites. It is wonderful recognition and reward for all his efforts, skills and abilities, and care and commitment to providing top-service educational opportunities for our students. Well done and congratulations!

SRAS temporarily farewells Mr Chris and Mrs Mary Ann Humphris, who will be leaving us in term 4. In their short time with us to-date, they have provided excellent support to SRAS and our students and are extremely keen to re-engage next year. Wishing them the very best as they take this short break from our community and looking forward to having you back with us in 2022.

SRAS warmly welcomes, Mrs Bianca Haby to our SSO team. Bianca will begin her role in classroom support, starting next term.

NAPLAN RESULTS

NAPLAN reports went home several weeks ago. It was extremely positive and highly affirming of our teaching and learning to see good progress despite COVID-19’s best efforts to interfere. The tables below showing class averages, demonstrates that there was a significant reduction (50%) in testing areas that didn’t meet SEA (Standard of Educational Advantage).

YEAR 1 PHONICS SCREENING

The department’s Phonics Screening is used as an indicator of students’ ability to decode real and nonsense words. The graph below shows our increasing achievements in this vital area of learning and is just reward for the teaching and interventions happening to address this site improvement goal. Whilst the class average for year 1s of 22.2 is under the SEA (Standard of Educational Advantage) of 28, it is a growth of 1.6 from the 2021 year 1s’ average. Of significance, is the growth displayed by the year 2s, who gained an average of 11 points from their year 1 average – from 20.6 to 31.6. Even more promising are the results from our current receptions who, on average, are well on the way to towards reaching SEA for next year.

For more information about your child’s individual data, thank you for arranging a time with their teachers or leadership.

INVITATION TO ‘THE RAIN MAKER’ PLAY

SRAS invites parents and carers to join our students (year 3-12s) and students (years 3-6) from Cambrai PS and Blanchetown PS to view a live play titled, ‘The Rain Maker’ on the first day of term 4, Monday 17th Oct, at 1:30pm, in the gymnasium. SRAS continues to collaborate with Mid Murray Our Town (MMOT) to bring exciting wellbeing opportunities to our community. Below is an outline of the 50 minute live play that is being adapted to ensure our younger students can join in.

“The RAIN MAKER is an important arts and health production for youth suicide prevention and youth mental health care. “ Produced by Centre Stage Scripts, THE RAIN MAKER is a multi- platform performance arts project that addresses the crippling rate of depression and suicide impacting youth in regional Australia. Studies show that farming communities in Australia experience mental health problems at twice the rate of the general population. However ‘rural stoicism' and fear of stigma are common barriers to sufferers seeking appropriate mental health care. (Hoolahan 2002) Nominated as a RAI Lightbulb Moments Finalist 2018, THE RAIN MAKER is designed to educate youth audiences around a range of issues relating to youth mental health care.

These include encouraging audiences to:

• be proactive and mindful of their mental health care
• seek professional help when needed
• access early intervention mental health services such as RAMHP, Headspace, Lifeline and Beyond Blue
• talk to friends, family and colleagues about their feelings of vulnerability, grief and loss
• accept that life can be difficult, but in time will improve
• not accept bullying, discrimination or harassment
• break down the stigma associated with mental illness
• support family and friends in their mental health journey

Set in a football club, The RAIN MAKER depicts the struggles of two young players and their coach. Star footballer Damian Jackson is destined for a future in AFL but events are threatening to derail his dream. His step father is an abusive drunk and when his mother receives a cancer diagnosis Damian assumes the role of carer to his mother and younger siblings. Damian’s dreams of playing AFL evaporate along with any relationship he might have with Lark. Meanwhile his friend Howie is the target of bullying. As a male dancer living in a small country town, it’s taking its toll. Joining the football club helps, but it's only when Howie seeks counselling that he recovers his self-esteem, mental health and identity. Coach Wikileaks is there to support and mentor the players, but he too is preoccupied with an imminent threat. The club haven’t made finals in the past three years and the committee are threatening to replace him with AFL great Bernard Merriton.

THE RAIN MAKER employs comedy, drama, music and dance to engage youth audiences. Each performance is followed by a Q&A where audience members are invited to question actors and discuss the various themes portrayed in the play.

The themes include:

• inclusion
• positive masculinity
• positive relationships and human connection
• connection with mentors and positive role models
• anti-bullying
• healthy use of social media
• gender equality

Lunch Time Tournament

As part of Stage 2 Sport Studies the year 12s organised a lunch time sports tournament for the secondary students to participate in for the first half of this term.

“Our aim was to decide on one specific sport that would be enjoyable and accessible for everyone participating to play, we started by listing all the sports our class liked. We then moved onto voting for them to which one we wanted to play the most. Our class ended by deciding on dodgeball. However, to make sure we made it more inclusive we went around to all other classes and asked them on their preference, and their classes went with dodgeball. I think that this was a great method of inclusivity as it asked everyone’s preference and made sure we got all opinions on the sports. If I was to organise another tournament I would use the same method as it involves everyone.” (Harley Page.) Congratulations to the staff team the ‘Triassic Dinos’ (named by the students) on going through with the undefeated championship win.

Mr Troy Cowland

Deputy Principal

On Tuesday 20^th September, Maliyah, Tyler, Lily, Ahna and Charlee participated in the Hiragana Competition that was held in Gawler. In this competition, students challenge their Hiragana symbol knowledge. They all did very well and we achieved 5th place out of 10 schools. Well done!

Mrs Yuka Endersby

Japanese Teacher

Wow! What an amazing event the 24-hour Pedal Prix was last weekend. The team clocked up 436 laps, coming third amongst other area schools, with Wudinna Area School riding 477 laps and Cleve Area School 437 laps.  Overall we came 69th out of 136 teams, which is a fantastic effort. Ryan recorded the fastest lap with a time of 2:12 minutes and broke the record for our school. The previous record was 2:34 minutes. Jacob tallied up a total of 239 minutes of riding time over the 24 hour period, and Tehya a total of 219 minutes. Several students experienced cramp, indicating the need to work on our mental fitness and physical stamina to be able to push through the pain and continue riding. This event gives our students a unique experience. However, opportunities like this cannot go ahead without lots of hard work and support.  I extend my thanks to Neill and Cassie for marshalling, the parents/carers who came along to cheer on the team, and Mr Carter and Mrs Griffiths for their untiring involvement and help. 

Mr Griffiths

Teacher

R- 2 CLASS

Term 3 in the R-2 class has just flown by. We have spent so much time researching space and the planets but yet there is still so much more to explore. We loved our visit to the Planetarium and learnt lots about the different star constellations. Many students were even able to recognise the different planets as we were shown through the atmosphere. It was truly an amazing experience and I highly recommend visiting the planetarium if you have a spare day in the school holidays (they have a copy of the school holiday program on their website).

We would love to share some of the facts we have learnt about the planets below:

Venus

• Spins in the opposite direction to most planets
• This is the hottest planet in the Solar System
• Is the brightest object in the sky other than the Moon and Sun
• One day on Venus lasts 243 Earth days

Mercury

• Circles the sun in 88 days
• Has no known moons
• During the day the surface temperature can reach 430 degrees Celsius and at night it can drop to as low as -180 degrees Celsius

Jupiter

• Jupiter is so huge that it could fit 1,300 Earths inside of it
• A day on Jupiter lasts 9 hours and 55 minutes
• The red spot on Jupiter is the most violent storm in the universe (It is 3 times the size of Earth!)
• Scientists think that Jupiter has 79 known moons

Mars

• Home to the volcano named Olympus Mons which is the largest known volcano in the Solar System.
• Second smallest planet in the Solar System
• Humans have sent many space crafts to Mars, but have not sent humans as of yet

Saturn

• It is a gas giant made up of mostly hydrogen and helium
• Has 82 moons (53 of them are even named)
• Is most commonly known for its large rings that surround it

Uranus

• Actually pronounced (your-an-us)
• Has the coldest atmosphere in the Solar System
• It contains methane that gives it a bright blue colour
• Has 13 rings that surround it but they aren’t thick or bright like Saturn’s rings.

Neptune

• It takes the sun 4 hours to reach Neptune
• Similar size to Uranus
• Neptune is dark, cold and stormy
• Winds on Neptune can reach up to 2000kms an hour

Earth

• Is the only planet with organic life
• 3 quarters of Earth is covered by water
• Only 3% of Earth’s water is fresh, the other 97% is salty
• It takes 8 minutes for sunlight to meet Earth

 YEAR 3-6 CLASS

On the 24th of August our class went on an excursion to the Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary as part of Science.  We had a great day and learnt lots of things about Australian wildlife.  Everyone made diaramas which are on display in the front office.

On Monday 19^th September, Lily and Charlee competed in athletics events as part of the Murraylands Team. The team came 2^nd overall. Individually, Lily came 2^nd in High Jump recording her personal best of 1.32m and 1^st in 4 x 100m relay. Charlee participated to the best of her ability. Well done girls.

Mrs Yuka Endersby

SAPSASA Coordinator

Congratulations to Mr Coleman and Mr Cowland and the BSR Redback team on winning the Riverland Independent Football Grand Final. The BSR Redbacks proved to be a formidable team defeating Sedan-Cambrai Magpies at Ramco.  Woo Hoo!

Congratulations also to Mrs Endersby and her daughter, Miyu who were awarded Senior Clubperson and Junior Clubperson of the Angaston Football Club respectively.  Great job!

The Swan Reach Area School apparel store is now live.  This means you can now order school shirts without having to go through the school.  For more information contact Tracey in the front office.

 Here is the direct link: https://www.printcity.net.au/product-category/swan-reach-area-school/

The Swan Reach Area School website is where you can find all the school information including the newsletter, forms and policies.  Please visit https://swanrchas.schoolzineplus.com

Due date for the next Newsletter is 10:00am, Wednesday, 26th October, 2022.  The newsletter is distributed via the SZApp and school website.  Printed copies are still available upon request.

Articles can be emailed to dl.0423.info@schools.sa.edu.au  clearly marked in the subject box as Newsletter, faxed to 8570 2325 or delivered to the library/front office. Due to the way the Newsletter is now being set up, not all photos are included in the print copy, however there are several photo galleries included online and via the SZApp. Apple devices: open the App store and search and download SZapp, on Android devices open the Play store and search and download SZappa; select the Asia Pacific region and search for Swan Reach Area School.  Follow the prompts to register using an email address and create a password to access the online newsletter. Contact the school should you require any assistance.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS OPENING HOURS - OCTOBER 2022

OPENING HOURS

The library now has a mobile phone for communication.  Please let me know if you would like to be included on the message list to receive notifications, holiday and opening hours etc.

The number is:   0460 366 067

myGov - CHANGES

Your myGov account gives you access to a range of government online services. It will soon be changing with a fresh new look and more features, making it easier for you to access services you need.

When myGov changes, you won’t need to change anything you currently do. You will still:

• find myGov at the same website address – my.gov.au
• sign in the same way, using your current sign-in details
• have access to all your linked services, including the ATO
• access ATO online services the same way
• receive ATO messages to your myGov inbox
• go to ATO online services to view reminders, messages and information relating to your tax and super
• lodge your business activity statement (BAS) through ATO online services if you’re a sole trader.

Curious? You can visit the myGov Beta website, a trial site that lets you explore and get familiar with some of the new features.

Remember, your myGov account is different to the myGovID app. You can use the myGovID app to sign in to your myGov account by entering or accepting a 4-digit code.

'BEING DIGITAL INNOVATION'

being digital is a program to help promote the digital assistance and learning that SA’s public libraries offer to adult South Australians.

The being digital webpage provides a useful portal for those less experienced with technology and digital to start learning the basics. The content featured is provided by partners including Be Connected and the eSafety Commisioner. We encourage you to further browse the courses offered by these partners on their websites to continue your digital learning journey. being digital is jointly funded by State Government and Local Government.  We’re making it easy for you to develop your skills and confidence to connect with today’s digital world.  Learn more about our being digital program. Need additional assistance? Contact your local library.

The webpage which has learning content by topic and links to related digital literacy programs at libraries is at http://www.libraries.sa.gov.au/beingdigital

COVID-19 DIGITAL PASSPORTS

Can't access your digital passport or load on your phone? The Community Library can scan your paperwork and reduce to credit card size for your wallet or purse.  No charge.

A vacancy exists for a school cleaner for 10 hours per week.  If interested please contact Hazel Ireland on 0448 169 464.

Swan Reach Christian Women's Group invite you to join them for Bible study and fellowship each month. 11am, second Tuesday of the Month at the Swan Reach Lutheran Church Hall.  BYO lunch.  For more information please phone Taryn 0427 702 377 or Josie 0419 708 224.  All welcome.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS - LUTHERAN CARE

BINGO